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MAY 2019 http:///www.astbirdclub.org

AST members-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Calendar Of Events:

NO MEETINGS MAY—AUGUST

See you in the fall!

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Wings in the Desert

Avicultural Society of Tucson -Newsletter

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Wings in the Desert

President’s Perch We had a very nice BBQ at our April meeting and the Bird Mart was a success. The next AST meeting will be in September.

Joyce

Presidents Perch 2

AST officers 3

Raffle —-

Articles 5,6,7

Classified Ads 8,10,11

Services 16

From Sheldon Orloff,

Please check out the following links to recent articles: Grooming Your Avian Companion (podcast) by Dr. Laurie Hess (ZuPreem) - 4/1/2019 - 23 minutes Food for Thought by Mirran Trimble (Macaw Recovery Network) - 4/1/2019 Living Like a Bird by Renee Hewitt (intoBirds) - 4/1/2019 Car Safety: Why Your Bird Needs to “Buckle Up” by Amy Hopkins (Lafeber) - 4/2/2019 The Ups and Downs of Parrot Nesting Season in Guatemala by Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner (One Earth Conservation) - 4/2/2019 How emus and ostriches lost the ability to fly by Tina Hesman Saey (Science News) - 4/4/2019 Keeping Her Sister’s Legacy Alive: Saving the Blue-throated Ma-caws by Andria Frankfort (The Buzz Magazines) - 4/9/2019 Companion Parrots and Flight Part Three: The Benefits to Us by Pamela Clark, CPBC - 4/10/2019 Create a Hospitable Backyard Bird Habitat by Matt Rowe (Lafeber) - 4/10/2019 Parrot Chop, Veggies, and Feeding Fresh for Parrots by Michael Sazhin (Trained Parrot) - 4/12/2019

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Avicultural Society of Tucson

Officers

Board & Committees

Objectives Of AST

The objectives of the Aviculture Socie-ty of Tucson (AST) are to share avian Information & developments among the membership & the general public., as well as to foster avian research. Placing adoption / rescue birds into a good home is a primary concern. AST encourages humane treatment of all types & varieties of domesticated and non- domestic birds. Education on proper care, diet, hous-ing & the socialization of pet & breed-er birds, as well as the sharing of possible dangers, is an ongoing pro-ject. Articles on these subject appear in the monthly newsletter, & speakers on subjects are features at the general meetings. On occasion AST sponsors an educational seminar . An education table is set up at all Ex-otic Birds Expos. In order to help in-form the public.

Adoption Committee

Different kinds of birds keep coming into this program, so if you don’t al-ready have a recent application on file, please fill one out and send it to faulkinbury@gmail.com AST is not responsible for the health & behavior of any birds that are adopted out.

Office Name Phone Number / Email

President Joyce Lekawa 520.790.7587

Vice President Colleen Maloney 520.484.6558

Secretary Shannon Faulkinbury faulkinbury@gmail.com

Treasurer Carolyn Haldar tielfan@hotmail

Past President Tom Richardson 520.850.2302

Board Of Directors Term Dates

Amparo (Maria Gross ) March, 2019 520.349.8699

Kathy Underwood March, 2019 520.721.1662

Cindy Taylor March, 2019 520.400.7650

Pat Governale

Mary Green June, 2018 520.299.7747

Scott Anderson June, 2018 520.822.7999

Ex. Officio Board Members

Library Chair Flint Freeman 520.682.8882

Newsletter Editors Janine Spencer-Glasson janines07@comcast.net

Joyce Baum ringnecklady@msn.com

Mailing and Membership Joyce, Rich, and

Hayden Lekawa 520.790.7587

Raffle Chair Amparo Gross 520.349.8699

Pedro Gross

Committees

Adoption Chair Shannon Faulikinbury 520-954-3518

Co- Chair Amparo M Gross 520.349.8699

Advertising & Promotion Joyce Lekawa 520.790.7587

AFA Delgates Carolyn Haldar tielfan@hotmail.com

Bird Expo Chair Scott Anderson 520.822.7999

DNA, Wings & Toenail clipping Colleen Maloney 520.484.6558

Education

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Grooming services are for AST members only, on a walk –in basis at the club monthly meeting.

These services are offered before the meeting between 1:00pm-2:00pm . Signed permission /liability forms are required.

Policy

Payments for services are against the club by-laws, however, donations are welcomed. 2 birds per member maximum each month. Suggested Donations for Services at the club monthly meeting:

$10.00 per bird for both wings and nails.

$10.00 additional charge if dremel is used $5.00 for DNA sample

Remember that—AST has a new groomer -

Colleen, of Quality Critter Care - who does wings

and nails. Colleen will be at most of the meetings.

Visit our AST Library

BIRD CLUB ETIQUETTE

Ask owner’s permission to handle/feed birds & remember to return bird to the owner!

Wash hands prior/after bird handling.

Clean up after yourself and your bird(s) before you leave.

Your Avicultural Society

of Tucson Dues are due

every January — if you

have not yet renewed,

please do so, to support

our club activities and

to continue to receive

the newsletter!

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Help, My Parrot is Bored!

https://www.forbirdsonlyny.com/blog/2016/3/3/how-to-keep-your-parrot-entertained

• Make Sure They Have Plenty of Toys - Provide your parrot with plenty of toys and objects to chew on. Rotate toys frequently. A foraging tree is a great way to give you plenty of places to hang new toys for your parrot. Include a clamp-on dish filled with foot toys and chewable items.

• Let Them Stretch Their Wings - Let your bird out of the cage. This will keep them happier and entertained, as well as providing much-needed exercise. Just make sure that the room is free of pet-hazards before you let out your parrot.

• Teach Them Something New - Spend some one-on-one time with your parrot and teach them something new! This will help keep your bird entertained, keep their mind stimulated, and will improve your relationship with your bird.

• Make Sure Their Cage is Big Enough - Small cages are no fun for birds. Make sure your bird has an appro- priately-sized cage for their size and their needs. This will give your bird more space to roam, and more places for you to hang their toys!

• Stay Social - Birds are social creatures. Make sure you give your birds attention every day. Take some time to take them out of the cage and help them to fight boredom. Your bird will be a better friend if you take time to socialize with them.

• Leave a Radio On - When you're out at a store or at work, your bird will still need to be entertained. Why not leave a radio or TV on to help keep your bird entertained while you're away. Just try to avoid the nature channel, as some predator sounds might scare your bird. You can use a timer so it turns off at a certain time to allow for some variety and a quiet nap time.

USDA confirms virulent Newcastle disease in Arizona https://www.feedstuffs.com/nutrition-health/usda-confirms-virulent-newcastle-disease-arizona Finding in pet chickens, thought to be connected to outbreak in California, is not a food safety concern. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced April 5 that it has confirmed the presence of virulent Newcastle disease (VND) in a small flock of pet chickens in Coconino County, Ariz Coconino County includes the Flagstaff area in northern Arizona, including Grand Canyon National Park, but APHIS did not disclose the actual location of the affected flock.

The agency said this case is believed to be connected to the current outbreak of VND in California, as tests show the virus is almost identical to the virus causing disease in California. Since May 2018, more than 400 VND cases have been confirmed as part of this southern California outbreak, primarily in backyard exhibition birds. A single case had also been found in a backyard flock in Utah that had been relocated from Los Angeles, Cal.

VND is not a food safety concern. No human cases of Newcastle disease have ever occurred from eating poultry prod-ucts. Properly cooked poultry products are safe to eat.

APHIS is working with the Arizona Department of Agriculture to respond to the finding. Federal and state partners are also conducting additional surveillance and testing in the area, the announcement said.

APHIS emphasized that it is essential that all bird owners follow good biosecurity practices to help protect their birds from infectious diseases.

In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to their veteri-narian or to State veterinary officials. Additional information on biosecurity for all poultry flocks can be found at www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

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ARIZONA AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Bird Mart Schedule

El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium

522 N. 40th Street (just south of the 202 Freeway on 40th St.)

Phoenix, AZ 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Sunday—May 19, 2019 Sunday, October 27, 2019 Admission: Adults: $5.00 Children 12 & Under Free Free Parking Offering a large variety of Exotic Birds, Cages, Toys, Feed, & Assorted Supplies for the bird owner. Call 602-863-0455 for vendor space availability Registration Form at www.azavisociety.org

IF YOU FIND A BABY BIRD OUT OF ITS NEST If it is a fledgling (i.e. nearly fully feathered, with yellow around beak) leave it alone if it is in a safe place. Baby birds often jump out of the nest before they can really fly. If it is in a dangerous place, like on a sidewalk, street, or there are loose cats, put it under a bush nearby, where its parents can still take care of it. If it is a nestling (i.e. still bare or fuzzy), try to find the nest and put the bird back. If you can’t find the nest, or if it is inaccessible, make a nest out of a margarine tub of some other clean plastic container. Punch holes in the bottom, add a little paper towel, and nail it to a tree or put it up somewhere near where you found the nestling, so the par-ents will still be able to find it. If the baby bird is injured, keep it warm, and call a wildlife rehabilitator: • Tucson Wildlife Center: 520-290-9453, • Wildlife Rehab of NW Tucson: 520-743-0217

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Signs That Your Bird May Have Mites

Though not a common problem, there are several types of mites that can infect a com-panion bird. Look at your bird carefully when checking for mites. To prevent this problem, keep your cages clean and bathe your birds regularly. Mites are very small parasite (in some cases, microscopic) eight-legged arthropods, related to siders and ticks. They ingest blood, skin and/or feather material from the bird. Mites can be transmitted by wild birds, if you have outdoor aviary or if you leave your cages outside to dry after washing them down.

Some Types of Bird Mites

• Burrowing Face Mites: You may notice a crusty-looking buildup around the eyes or beak. This is often where you will see face mites. These mites dig into the birds skin like they are creating tunnels. These mites are most commonly seen on budgerigars.

• Scaly Leg or Scaley Face Mites: Check your birds legs and feet. You might see scaly skin that can look dry and have white crust on it. If the mite has burrowed into the skin, it can become swollen or have a rash as well. Budgerigars, canaries, and lovebirds are species commonly affected by scaly mites.

• Air Sac or Canary Lung Mites: Birds can cough and sneeze frequently if they have a bad infestation of mites. They may breathe with difficulty as if gasping - mites can infest the birds air sacs or sinuses. The bird might start to make a click-ing sound or change how he sounds. Air sac mites are most common in canaries, finches, and pigeons.

• Feather Mites: These are most likely to be found on birds with a low immune system. The bird will be restless-often more so at night. They may appear to be weak (this is from anemia from the mites feeding). You could see ruffled or dull feathers. Most commonly found on parrots and finches.

• Red Mites: You may be able to see these mites—they look like little red specks that move—on the birds or on nest box-es. They feed on blood at night, and can be transmitted to people and dogs. Cover your cage with a white sheet at night, and check the underside in the morning to look for red specks.

Signs that May Indicate the Presence of Mites:

• Restlesness—Your bird may scratch and preen more, flick its wings, or rub its beak, and generally act like they are uncomfortable.

• Formation of Crust— You may notice a crust around your bird’s beak, eyes or legs, where the mites have burrowed into the skin and left a crust that can deform beaks or cause inflammation on legs.

• Loss of Feathers— If your bird is losing a large number of feathers, has bare spots, and it doesn’t look like a typical molt, mites could be causing your bird to try to get rid of them and their excrement.

If You Think Your Bird Has Mites

Mites can make your birds anemic, lame, deform the beak, or even kill them. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to have your bird(s) treated. Do not use the commercial, round Protective Mite Killers you can hang on the side of the cage—they are toxic. Do not try home remedies. Disinfect the cages of all birds in the area and all of their contents, wash cage covers., and treat all birds in your flock.

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Advertising

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Display Advertising

Classifieds Ads are FREE to AST Members

Prices for Non-members - $20 per Issue

Ad Size 1 Month 6 Months 1 Year

Business Card $5 $25 $50

1/4 Page $15 $60 $90

1/2 Page $25 $100 $150

Full Page $40 $150 $200

*All fees are payable in advance of Publication and must include the Name & phone number of the advertiser. Display ads must be print ready. If not , there will be an additional charge.

Deadlines: All articles and/or advertisements must be sent to the editor by the 20th of the month

to appear in the next month’s edition.

4444 E. GRANT RD. #115

TUCSON AZ 85712

520.326.0114

EEE Ever Evolving Exotics

YOUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOR REPTILES,

AMPHIBIANS, AND INVERBETRATES

Macaws for Sale to forever homes, Fairly priced. Moving and can not take all with me.

• Blue & Gold Pair, Military Pair, Milligold and

Blue & Gold Pair.

• Greenwing Pair, both females and bonded

• 2 Military Females

• Milligold Female

• Scarlet Female

Most all come with cages.

Call Scott 520-822-7999

Advertising

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BIRD SITTING

• In my home. Loving care, very clean, and • attention to details.

• Experienced with many species.

• Located in the NW area.

Please call:

Janine Spencer at 520.245.6200

• Mobile nail / wing trimming

• In your home pet- sitting

• Cage cleaning

• Pet friendly house cleaning

Quality care for: birds, cats, dogs, small animals, reptiles and exotics. Colleen (520) 484-6558 Meepangel22@yahoo.com

Cheryl Sanchez 520.474.6536

www.myjafra.com/cherylsanchez

Steph’s Favorite Parrot Beak Bread 4-6 Over-ripe bananas 1 C. Whole wheat flour, Rice flour, Almond flour, or mix several 1/2 C. Ground flax Seed—Main ingredient! 1/4 C. Wheat Germ, optional 1 Stick margarine 1/2 C. Brown sugar or Agave syrup 2 Whole eggs, including shells 1 C. Cooked brown rice, optional 2 Tbsp. milk 1/2 tsp. Baking soda 1 1/4 tsp. Baking powder, no aluminum 1/2 Almonds, crushed 1/2-1 C. Walnuts, crushed Dried fruit, whole oats, pumpkin or other seeds Mix margarine, sugar, bananas, eggs. Add dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Add other ingredients. Add oats last. Pour into 4 Qt. pan sheet. Bake 325 degrees for 50-55 min. until golden brown.

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ABOUT AST – www.astbirdclub.org

The Avicultural Society of Tucson (AST) is a 501c3 non-profit educational organization. The main objective of AST is to share information about birds, and to educate new bird owners as to the proper care, diet, housing and socialization of their birds as well as dangers to their birds, in order for them to live a long happy, healthy life. Meetings: Second Sunday of the month in September through April (No meetings May through August) Where: (FOP) 3445 North Dodge, Tucson, Arizona When: 1:30pm to 4:00pm

There is a question and answer period where people are welcome to ask any question about raising birds. We have excellent guest speakers on avicultural topics such as: bird diseases, nutrition, individual breeds of birds, breeding and hand feeding birds, cage building, first aid kits, protection against theft and animal behavior. • We also have an AST Library which is full of informative bird books and CDs • After our speaker there is a fun raffle with great prizes • AST also has a Great Adoption /Rescue Program for unwanted birds. AST members have from one-to-many birds. Some have pet birds and others may be bird breeders. You will find that at some AST the members have been with the Club for more than 30 years and others are new mem-bers. We are quite a diverse group with one common thread. (The True Love of Birds)

AST sponsors two large bi-annual Bird Marts where club members and vendors sell birds, cages, food, toys, and all things parrot-related.

An educational booth at these events has knowledgeable club members to answer any questions.

The proceeds from the Birds Expo’s are donated each year to local non-profits, as voted on by the AST board. This includes the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, and several wildlife rehabilitation non-profits. Others are add-ed from time to time.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

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CURRENT RESIDENT

The Avicultural Society of Tucson meetings begin with social time and

Set –up is at 1:30 pm, the second Sunday of each month. The business portion of the meeting begins at 2 p.m.

The Board meetings begin at 12:00, prior to the general meetings.

All members are welcome to attend these meetings.

Meetings are held at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, 3445 North Dodge, Tucson, Arizona 85719

NON-PROFIT U.S. Postage PAID Tucson, AZ Permit No: 1702

Wings in the Desert

Published Monthly by The Avicultural Society of Tucson

Post Office Box 41501 Tucson, Arizona 85717- 1501